Shafts made of advanced composite materials and their applications in different fields are gaining momentum due to their optimized properties. This paper presents various multi-objective optimization ...(
MOO
) models for the structural design of slender, thin-walled spinning shafts made of advanced composite materials. The proposed mathematical formulation ensures the attainment of simultaneous and balanced improvements in the major design objectives, including minimal mass and maximum stability against whirling and torsional buckling under behavioral and side constraints. A hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) and sequential quadratic programming (SQP) are implemented to find the needed optimal solutions. Design variables encompass the fiber volume fraction, orientation angle, and thickness of each layer of the cross-section. A case study that addresses the optimization of a pinned–pinned slender shaft made of carbon/epoxy composites is presented. The new approach exhibited its capacity to overcome the uncertainty in ranking and selecting a solution from the set of Pareto-optimal solutions as it determines a unique optimal solution that has a nearly equal optimization gains for the selected design objectives.
The goal of the research was to investigate and analyze how Nubian building Environmental systems could be an inspiring way to develop and to rebuild the new city of Aswan and similar contemporary ...cities in hot arid regions. The paper also identifies the main economic, social and cultural consequences of using Nubian Vernacular systems for defining contemporary sustainable and restorative buildings and how these systems were ignored after Nubian displacement by the Government due to the high-dam project establishment. Moreover, it illuminates the most important techniques and methodologies of Nubian village planning and construction and how these ways could achieve maximum passive cooling, thermal comfort, least energy consumption and finally the sustainable development required in the 21st century. Keywords: Nubian houses, Vernacular architecture, Sustainable development
Until vaccines and effective therapeutics become available, the practical solution to transit safely out of the current coronavirus disease 19 (CoVID-19) lockdown may include the implementation of an ...effective testing, tracing and tracking system. However, this requires a reliable and clinically validated diagnostic platform for the sensitive and specific identification of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we report on the development of a de novo, high-resolution and comparative genomics guided reverse-transcribed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. To further enhance the assay performance and to remove any subjectivity associated with operator interpretation of results, we engineered a novel hand-held smart diagnostic device. The robust diagnostic device was further furnished with automated image acquisition and processing algorithms and the collated data was processed through artificial intelligence (AI) pipelines to further reduce the assay run time and the subjectivity of the colorimetric LAMP detection. This advanced AI algorithm-implemented LAMP (ai-LAMP) assay, targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene, showed high analytical sensitivity and specificity for SARS-CoV-2. A total of ~200 coronavirus disease (CoVID-19)-suspected NHS patient samples were tested using the platform and it was shown to be reliable, highly specific and significantly more sensitive than the current gold standard qRT-PCR. Therefore, this system could provide an efficient and cost-effective platform to detect SARS-CoV-2 in resource-limited laboratories.
The addition of a methyl group to the N6 position of adenosine (m6A) is the most common posttranscriptional RNA modification, and it regulates most steps of RNA metabolism including splicing, ...stability, translation, nuclear-export, and RNA structures. Besides cellular RNA, m6A modifications have also been detected on viral RNA. A range of recent studies have demonstrated the crucial roles of m6A in the virus–host interactions; however, m6A cellular machineries are only characterized in limited mammalian species. Herein, we aim to present comprehensive evolutionary insights into major m6A writers, erasers, and readers and draw a comparative structural analysis between avian and mammalian m6A-associated machineries. The comparative collinearity on the chromosomal scale revealed that the majority of m6A-related genes were found less syntenic even among avian species. Genetic analysis of avian m6A erasers revealed a distinct phylogenetic clustering compared to mammalian orthologs and shared a weak percent (55%) identity with mammalian species with low identity percentage (55%). The overall comparative three-dimensional (3D) structure analyses among different mammalian species were maintained through synonymous structural mutations. Unlike erasers, the putative 3D structures in the active sites as for the aromatic cage in YTH-domain of YTHDC1 and two pivotal loops in MTD-domains in METTL3 exhibited structural alterations in chicken. In conjunction with
in silico
investigations, influenza viruses significantly downregulated gene the transcription of m6A writers and erasers, whereas m6A readers were moderately regulated in chicken fibroblasts. In light of these findings, future detailed biochemical and crystallographic studies are warranted to define the roles of m6A machinery in regulating both viral and cellular RNA metabolism in avian species.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus causes heavy losses in poultry farms worldwide. Molecular diagnostic techniques like RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR are considered the gold standard for ...identification of H5 influenza viruses in clinical samples. These techniques are hampered by the need of well-equipped laboratories, large space requirement, and relatively long time-to-result. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay represents an excellent alternative to PCR since it is more simple, rapid, economic, and portable. Reverse transcription RPA (RT-RPA) assay was recently developed for sensitive and specific detection of H5N1 virus in 6–10 min. To ensure the accuracy of the developed assay, two approaches for using a positive control were evaluated in this study. These approaches included: 1) all-in-one (internal positive control; IPC), 2) two-tubes-per-one-sample (external positive control; EPC). Sigma virus (SIGV) RNA and turkey mitochondrial DNA were tested as positive controls in both approaches. For all-in-one approach, both targets (H5 and IPC) were strongly inhibited. In contrast, very good amplification signals were obtained for the two types of EPC with no effect on the analytical sensitivity and specificity of H5 RT-RPA assay in two-tubes-per-one-sample approach. The performance of EPC-based H5 RT-RPA was further validated using 13 tracheal swabs. The results were compared to real-time RT-PCR and proved superior specificity in detecting H5N1 but not H5N8 viruses. Inclusion of EPC did not affect the aptitude of both assays in terms of sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. In conclusion, the two-tubes-per-one-sample approach was more reliable to control the false negative results in H5 RT-RPA assay.
•RT-RPA assay was previously developed for detection of H5N1 virus in clinical samples.•Two approaches for using a positive control in the developed assay were evaluated.•In all-in-one approach, both targets (H5 and internal positive control) were strongly inhibited.•Two-tubes-per-one-sample approach was more reliable to control false negative results in H5 RT-RPA assay.
Equine influenza is an important cause of respiratory disease in equids. The causative virus; EIV, is highly variable and can evolve by accumulation of mutations, particularly in the haemagglutinin ...(HA) gene. Currently, H3N8 is the sole subtype circulating worldwide with Florida clade 1 (FC1) is most prevalent in the Americas and FC2 in Asia and Europe. In Egypt, EIV was detected in two occasions: subtype H7N7 in 1989 and subtype H3N8 (FC1) in 2008. No data is available on the circulation pattern of EIV during the last decade despite frequent observation of suspected cases. Twenty-two nasal swabs were collected from vaccinated and non-vaccinated horses showing respiratory signs suggestive of EIV infection in 2017-18. Three additional swabs were retrieved during a national race event in January 2018 from Arabian mares with high fever, gait stiffness and dry cough. Samples were screened by RT-qPCR and HA1 domain of the hemagglutinin gene was amplified and sequenced for sequence and phylogenetic analysis. RT-qPCR screening revealed that only the 3 samples from the race were positive with cycle thresholds ranging from 16 to 21 indicating high viral load. Isolation attempts in hen's eggs were unsuccessful. Sequence analysis of the HA1 domain gene has revealed two identical nucleotide sequences, while the third contained 3 synonymous mutations. Phylogenetic analysis clustered study sequences with recent FC2 sequences from Europe. Amino acid alignments revealed 14 and 13 amino acid differences in the study sequences compared to A/equine/Egypt/6066NANRU-VSVRI/08 (H3N8) and A/equine/Kentucky/1997 (H3N8), respectively, available as EIV vaccines in Egypt. Nine amino acids were different from A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8), the recommended FC2 vaccine strain by the world organization of animal health expert surveillance panel (OIE-ESP), two of which were unique to the Egyptian sequences while the remaining 7 changes were shared with the FC2-144V subgroup detected in the United Kingdom from late 2015 to 2016. The study represents the first reported detection of FC2-144V related EIV from Arabian mares in Egypt, and probably from the entire middle east region. The presented information about EIV epidemiology and spread may require reconsideration of the vaccine strains used in the national vaccination programs.
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